Blender 4.0 is the preferred choice for users focused on 3D modeling, animation, and rendering due to its advanced tools, open-source nature, and strong community support. AutoCAD 2025 is better suited for professionals requiring precise CAD drafting, extensive file format compatibility, and industry-standard documentation tools, despite its subscription-based pricing.
| Attribute | Blender 4.0 | Autodesk AutoCAD 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Modeling Capabilities | Enhanced 3D modeling tools, including new sculpting brushes, advanced modifiers for non-destructive editing, and improvements in mesh editing and topology tools. A new snapping feature called Snap Base allows users to interactively define how objects or components snap together. Excels in producing low-poly models while enhancing visual appeal through advanced finishing techniques. Additional add-ons like Meshmashine, Hardops, and Boxcutter further bolster Blender's modeling prowess. | Offers 3D modeling features, supporting wireframe, solid, surface, and mesh modeling. Includes improved 3D navigation tools and advanced surface modeling. |
| CAD Drafting Tools | While Blender is primarily a 3D modeling and animation tool, it is not specifically designed for CAD drafting. | Provides best-in-class technical drawing tools suited for layered drafting, dimensioning, and annotation. Allows creation of precise 2D plans, elevations, and sections using geometric shapes. |
| Rendering Quality and Options | Upgraded Cycles rendering engine with improved support for GPU acceleration, path guiding for glossy surfaces, and light/shadow linking. Includes the Eevee real-time render engine for quick previews. The Principled BSDF shader has been rewritten for more physically accurate results. AgX is the new default color transform, replacing Filmic, for improved handling of overexposed areas. | Includes rendering tools for applying materials, textures, and lighting to create realistic visualizations of 3D models. Updated Visual Styles Manager provides more control over the appearance of 3D models, offering options for presenting designs in realistic environments and higher-quality images with shorter rendering times. |
| Animation Tools | Innovative animation and rigging tools, such as advanced bone constraints and deformation systems, improvements in inverse kinematics, support for advanced animation layers and non-linear animation, and the replacement of Bone Layers with Bone Collections. New features in the graph editor have been integrated, letting users manipulate curves through different operations. | Limited information on specific animation tools. Presentation files (.ipn) can be used for animations and exploded views. |
| Simulation Capabilities | Information found does not directly mention simulation capabilities. | Lacks built-in simulation capabilities, focusing more on drafting and design documentation. |
| Scripting and Automation | Flexible Python-controlled interface and API, allowing users to customize the application and write specialized tools. Node Tools, based on geometry nodes, allow users to save operations for future use without needing Python scripting. | Supports AutoLISP routines for custom automations, streamlining repetitive tasks. Offers APIs for controlling the drawing environment and modifying the database of a drawing. Supports ObjectARX, Visual LISP, Managed .NET, ActiveX Automation, VBA, and JavaScript. |
| File Format Compatibility | Supports a wide range of 3D graphics file formats, both proprietary and standard, including .blend, Collada (.dae), Stereolithography (.stl), Filmbox (.fbx), gITF 2.0 (.glb, .gltf), and Wavefront (.obj). Blender 3.6 LTS can read files saved with 4.0, but earlier versions cannot. | Saves, opens, and edits DWG formats back to version 1998 (AutoCAD R14). Supports DWG, DXF, DWF, PDF, BMP, EPS, and IGES file formats for import and export. |
| User Interface and Workflow | The user interface has been redesigned to provide a cleaner and more intuitive layout, with streamlined menus and panels, context-sensitive menus, and customizable toolbars and workspace layouts. A new font, Inter, is used for improved readability. | User interface consists of the Application Button, Quick Access Toolbar, Title Bar, Info Center, Ribbon Area, and File Tabs. Workspaces allow control over the display and position of UI elements. |
| Customization Options | Highly customizable interface, allowing users to tailor the layout, colors, size, fonts, and tools to their specific workflow needs. Supports hundreds of add-ons and a Python API for creating custom tools. | Offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the interface, add specialized tools, and create workflows. Can be customized by modifying the XML-based customization (CUIx) file with the Customize User Interface (CUI) Editor. |
| Community Support and Resources | Countless communities and thriving businesses are built around Blender. Together, these tutorial makers and content creators, add-on developers and global marketplaces form an ever-expanding ecosystem. | Availability of community forums, Autodesk Assistant for support, and various online resources for learning and troubleshooting. |
| Licensing and Pricing | Free and open-source 3D creation suite, licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). | Utilizes subscription-based pricing with various tiers. A lifetime license is also available. |
| System Requirements | Minimum: OS: Distribution with glibc 2.28 or newer (64-bit); CPU: 4 cores with SSE4.2 support; RAM: 8 GB; Graphics: 2GB VRAM, OpenGL 4.3; macOS: macOS 11.2, Apple Silicon or Intel, Metal 2.2. Recommended: CPU: 8 cores; RAM: 32 GB; Graphics: 8GB VRAM | Operating System: 64-bit Windows 11 or Windows 10 (version 1809 or later); macOS Sequoia v15, Sonoma v14, Ventura v13, or Monterey v12; Processor: Basic: 2.5-2.9 GHz processor with 8 logical cores; Recommended: 3+ GHz processor (base), 4+ GHz (turbo); Memory: Basic: 8 GB; Recommended: 32 GB (Windows), 16 GB (Mac); Display Resolution: Conventional Displays: 1920 x 1080 with True Color; High Resolution & 4K Displays: Resolutions up to 3840 x 2160; Display Card: Basic: 2 GB GPU with 29 GB/s Bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliant; Recommended: 8 GB GPU with 106 GB/s Bandwidth and DirectX 12 compliant; Disk Space: 10.0 GB (suggested SSD) for Windows, 8 GB free disk space for Mac |